Guacin' It Up

A few weeks ago I had a strange hankering to replay several games that I recalled enjoying.  Not abnormal.  Then I remembered that they were fairly difficult to play with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup that is the staple of PC gaming.  They weren't impossible, because I did manage to finish them, but they would have been much more enjoyable without the insane button/mouse combinations.  I decided to bite and do something a bit sacrilegious to PC...I bought a controller (*shameful glance*GASP*).  Once my new controller arrived, I happily delved back into one of my favorite Metroidvania/platformers from the past, Guacamelee!

Since I'm on a budget and didn't feel like spending much money to try the experiment of a controller, I went with a very cheap model (Amazon Basics XBOX One Wired Controller).  It was only $19.99 which was less than half the price of the official Microsoft controllers.  Is it fancy or cool?  No, not at all.  Does it do what it's supposed to do?  Mostly.  I have very little experience with console controllers, but do get a sense that the rumble function doesn't seem to work as effectively as it should--this is something that is mentioned in many of the reviews.  For someone used to a controller, this would probably be a problem.  For me, it's not a big deal.  The controls worked as they should and definitely were much easier than mouse and keyboard.  Setting it up was very easy--I just plugged it into a front USB port and it was detected right away.  If you're someone who's on a budget and looking for a basic controller (and aren't terribly attached to the rumble function), I would recommend giving this cheap model a try.

Tostada, Juan, and skeletal bad-guy Carlos Calaca.

Guacamelee! is a game that I picked up about five to six years ago, managed to finish, really enjoyed, but hadn't picked it back up again due to the complexity of the controls (FYI--it does recommend a controller).  The story involves a wannabe wrestler (luchador) named Juan who lives on the outskirts of a small village in Mexico.  Juan is on his way to becoming a legitimate luchador when there's a sudden explosion at the home of his secret love--El Presidente's daughter.  He rushes off to see if she is fine, only to discover that a mysterious skeletal figure has bombed the mansion and is kidnapping the daughter!  Juan attempts to free El Presidente's daughter but is struck down...when he wakes up, he discovers that he is in the land of the dead and that his love is nowhere to be found.  Juan discovers that he can shift between the land of the dead and the land of the living through special portals.  He then sets out to track down his love and eliminate the posse of strange characters who are in league with the evil Carlos Calaca.

Pros:

+ Unique setting and basis for the story.  Mexican folklore serves up many of the characters, places, and environments in the game.  The characters are luchadors, masked wrestlers, popular in Mexico.  There are elements of the traditional Mexican holiday, dia de los muertos, scattered throughout the game.  Juan adventures through many environments inspired by Mexico--dry deserts, high mountains, and Aztec-like temples.  There's also the entire mechanic of switching between the worlds of the living and the dead.

+ Rockin' soundtrack inspired by traditional Mexican music.  It's great--there are mariachi-like segments that are perfect for the faster-paced periods of gameplay.  One of the best parts of the music in the game is the fact that it changes slightly when you switch between world states--the music in the world of the dead has a wavy, ethereal spin.

+ Fun and challenging mechanic of switching between world states.  Some objects will only appear in a certain world state--indicated by a sparkly texture--and, in many sections, a major part of the challenge comes from being able to quickly switch between those states.  Enemies can also utilize the two world states and attack you from either.

+ Metroidvania gameplay style paired up with platforming elements.  Fighting enemies means punching and kicking them to rack up combo points.  After a certain amount of damage, enemies become "graspable," and can be grabbed for a wrestling inspired finishing move.  Some moves are unlockable through specific events and others can be bought with in-game currency found throughout each area.  It's highly enjoyable to piledrive an obnoxious foe into the ground.

+Many different enemy types.  There are several varieties of skeleton (which can be identified by the color of sarape they are wearing) that have different attacks; flying chupacabras that spit fireballs at you; weird, floral monsters that can hide underground...and many, many more.  Each enemy requires you to learn the ideal way to deal with them  There are also many "boss" battles that require you to use specific combinations of skills that you have learned.  There are points in many areas where an area is closed off and you must defeat a bunch of enemies to proceed.  These serve as challenges and are (mostly) very fun to complete.

+ Challenging mechanics.  There's an almost puzzle-like element to figuring out how to navigate certain areas.  Those areas might require you to use a set of special skills or to be able to balance using skills AND switching between world states.  It can be brutal, but it's doable.

+ Special challenges, collectibles, and sidequests.  Scattered throughout the game are puzzle areas that usually reward players with heart fragments (which increase your total health when three have been found), stamina fragments (ditto on the three), or special chests filled with money.  There are also other challenges like the Combo Chicken gym....where a giant chicken challenges you to perform complicated combinations of skills on his defenseless (and hapless) skeletal luchador assistant.  There's also the Cavern of Pollo (chickens are a big theme) where players have to fight their way through progressively harder sets of enemies to reach the reward at the bottom of the cave.  Or, the Infierno, a set of special combat-based challenges run by the devil himself.  Essentially, there is a lot to choose from.

+ Replayability.  Since there are so many hidden collectibles (and even a secret hidden ending that can be unlocked through completing a set of very difficult puzzles and challenges which are hidden throughout the game), there are tons of reasons to want to fire it back up.

+ Cosmetic features.  Through completing challenges players can unlock new outfits or skins for Juan.  Some are purchasable with in-game currency.  Certain outfits have special benefits and unlocking them is part of the fun.

+ Workshop support.  The Steam Workshop is filled with unique themed outfits for Juan (and his female counterpart, Tostada).

Cons:

- While it is possible to play it with mouse and keyboard, you really should have a controller.  Trust me...it's for your own sanity.

-Certain sections of the game are truly challenging to navigate--they might require you to perform a very specific series of moves combined with swapping between world states.  It can be quite frustrating.  The good news is that there's no penalty for dying, so you can just keep at it.  If you get frustrated easily, you might not have much fun.

- The main storyline is relatively short--~7-8 hours.  (This could potentially be a + for someone looking for a short, sweet little game that is fun).

I would highly recommend Guacamelee! to anyone who is looking for a fun Metroidvania/platformer style of game with a unique aesthetic.  Even though segments of it can induce controller chucking rage, it can be conquered with perseverance (and Youtube walkthroughs).

Recommended for:

+ Fans of Metroidvanias/platformers

+ People who like challenging gameplay

+ Fans of wrestling moves

+ Fans of chickens

+ Fans of Mexican folklore/stories

Not Recommended for:

- Controller throwers

- People who get frustrated easily (see above)

- People who hate chickens